Uganda Police, through the Hoima Central Police Station Child and Family Protection Department, has commended CEHURD for its eight-year partnership in preventing and responding to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in Hoima City.
Through the DFPA project, CEHURD has supported efforts to strengthen the response to SGBV by training duty bearers, enhancing coordination among justice actors, providing legal and psychosocial support, facilitating court representation and witness support, strengthening referral pathways, and supporting survivor protection and access to justice.
Lecturer: Islamic University in Uganda- Kampala Campus
Kibuli Hill Road
Kampala Uganda
Uganda has promoted gender and reproductive justice through foundational constitutional guarantees, specific protective legislation, and national policy framework. Through institutions such as The Center for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD) which promotes gender and reproductive justice in Uganda, issues such as strategic litigation, community empowerment, legal aid, and policy advocacy have been embraced by many communities including higher institutions.
Students from Higher institutions and universities in Uganda have gotten a chance to acquire knowledge in the promotion of gender and reproductive justice by actively participating in specialized, high-impact national moot court competitions that challenge students to litigate multifaceted real-world human rights predicaments conducted by CEHURD every year. These moot court competition podiums train law students in public interest litigation, preparing young lawyers with the ethical foundation and practical expertise to encounter prejudiced laws and policies in the Ugandan Judicial system.
This programme is not just about the teams championing, but it uplifts and contributes to studentsβ ability to face real-life experiences in the legal profession. The moot problems seem fictional, but they are real problems faced by vulnerable individuals in various societies that require legal attention. With the introduction of the competence-based education system at higher learning institutions, the skills acquired by students during research, drafting and oral training sessions are enough to contribute to the students’ career building.
As higher institutions, this grants Universities a chance to produce better lawyers who will advocate for gender and reproductive justice whilst respecting the rule of law for all. Many students participate in this competition with the aim of learning, test their legal ability and competence as well as leaving victorious after the competition while others, its more than winning but to challenge themselves if they really have what it takes to bring justice to the needy while using the available laws. Our students are enthusiastically looking forward to this yearβs competition.
– By Calvin Obita, Lawyer and Chief Clerk 11th CEHURD Moot
I had the privilege of serving as Chief Clerk in a highly impactful 11th Annual National Inter-University Constitutional Law Moot Court Competition organized by the Center for Health, Human Rights, and Development (CEHURD). The theme, “Balancing Competing Priorities in Championing Reproductive Rights and Gender Equality in Uganda,” could not have been more timely or relevant to the challenges we face as a nation.
In my role, I was responsible for facilitating the smooth running of the proceedings, which allowed me to interact closely with the distinguished panel of judges and the brilliant participants who put forth compelling legal arguments on some of the most pressing issues facing Uganda today. These included access to quality sexual and reproductive health services, discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, and the government’s responsibility in ensuring safe and legal access to reproductive healthcare, including the right to safe termination of pregnancy.
The moot problem was a poignant reflection of the real-world dilemmas in Uganda’s health and legal landscape. It tackled critical issues such as:
– The failure to provide adequate sexual and reproductive health services and how this violates constitutional guarantees of health rights.
– Discrimination in the workplace, particularly against pregnant women, and its broader impact on gender equality and womenβs mental and physical health.
– The lack of laws and policies to ensure safe abortions, contributing to alarming maternal mortality rates, which remains a pressing concern.
– The unequal access to healthcare based on religious affiliations and how such disparities deepen existing inequalities in society.
Being part of this moot made me acutely aware of the delicate balance needed to champion reproductive rights while considering cultural, religious, and societal priorities. The legal arguments presented during the competition explored the tension between ensuring individual freedoms and health rights versus state and community interests, sparking thought-provoking discussions on how Uganda can move forward.
– Calvin
This experience not only sharpened my understanding of these issues but also reaffirmed the vital role of legal advocacy in addressing reproductive rights and gender equality in Uganda. The engagement and dedication of CEHURD in organising this moot reminded me of the importance of relentless advocacy in shaping a future where every individual has equal access to health rights, regardless of gender or circumstance.
I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have contributed to this significant platform, which has added so much to my professional growth and my appreciation of human rights law. Moving forward, I am inspired to continue engaging with these critical issues and supporting efforts that drive positive change in Uganda and beyond.
For many survivors of sexual violence in rural Uganda, the journey to justice is often obstructed not only by the trauma of the violation itself, but also by gaps in the systems meant to support them. One of the most significant challenges is the limited availability of forensic services, particularly the collection and testing of sexual assault swabs. These services are critical to gathering scientific evidence that can strengthen investigations and prosecutions.
The absence of accessible forensic services in many rural districts can weaken cases that might otherwise result in successful prosecutions. When crucial evidence cannot be collected, preserved or analysed within the required timeframe, investigations may be left without the scientific evidence needed to corroborate a survivorβs account or connect a suspect to an offence.
A case involving a 14-year-old girl from Mayuge District illustrates the challenges faced by survivors in rural communities. The girl was defiled while on her way to school. Although she could not identify the perpetrator by sight, she was able to remember his voice. Importantly, semen was found on her clothing, potentially providing valuable forensic evidence to support the case.
The suspect was arrested, giving the survivor and her family hope that justice would be achieved. However, the investigation faced a major obstacle: the need to conduct a sexual assault swab test to obtain corroborative forensic evidence. The police were informed that the required testing could only be conducted at the Wandegeya laboratory in Kampala, despite the offence having occurred in Mayuge District.
This requirement created additional barriers within the justice process. Transporting a police officer and evidence to Kampala requires financial resources that many rural police stations do not have. For survivors and their families, many of whom live in economically vulnerable communities, meeting these costs can be impossible.
As a result, some families eventually withdraw from pursuing cases, not because they do not want justice, but because the process becomes too expensive, prolonged and emotionally exhausting. When cases are abandoned for these reasons, perpetrators of sexual violence may escape accountability, while survivorsβ confidence in the justice system is further undermined.Β
The challenge also affects police officers responsible for investigating sexual offences. Even where investigators are committed to pursuing cases, the lack of nearby forensic facilities limits their ability to build strong cases. Delays in accessing evidence collection and testing services can compromise investigations and reduce the likelihood of successful prosecution.
Civil society organisations have played an important role in addressing some of these barriers. Organisations such as the Center for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD) have supported survivors to reduce some of the costs associated with pursuing justice. However, such interventions cannot reach every survivor or cover every district across the country. Access to justice should not depend on whether a civil society organisation is available to provide financial assistance.
The responsibility to provide accessible and effective forensic services rests with the government. Sexual violence occurs in both urban and rural communities, and survivors should not face unequal chances of obtaining justice simply because of where they live.
The government must take urgent steps to decentralise sexual violence evidence collection services and ensure that survivors can access timely forensic support closer to home. Health Centre III and Health Centre IV facilities should be appropriately equipped and supported to collect, preserve and refer evidence in accordance with professional standards. Health workers, police officers, prosecutors and other justice actors should also receive regular, specialised training in survivor-centred care and evidence handling.
Improving access to forensic services at local level would reduce delays, lower costs for survivors and investigators, and increase the chances of successful prosecution. It would also help prevent the loss or deterioration of time-sensitive evidence and demonstrate a commitment to ensuring that every survivor has equal protection under the law.
Justice should not depend on a family member or police officer being able to travel hundreds of kilometres to access a service that is essential to proving a crime. A survivor in Mayuge deserves the same opportunity for justice as a survivor in Kampala or anywhere else in Uganda.
The government must act to ensure that sexual violence evidence collection services are accessible throughout Uganda. Without these reforms, many survivors will continue to face a second injustice: the failure of the very systems meant to protect them and hold perpetrators accountable.
The author is a lawyer at the Center for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD).
The Centre for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD) is pleased to announce that the Moot Problem and accompanying Instructions for the 13th Annual National Inter-University Constitutional Law Moot Court Competition are now available.
This yearβs competition is themed:
βReproductive and Gender Justice in Uganda: Navigating Constitutional Rights, Public Interest and Social Values.β
The competition provides an opportunity for law students from participating universities to engage with critical constitutional questions at the intersection of reproductive and gender justice, constitutional rights, public interest and social values in Uganda.
CEHURD appreciates all universities that have registered to participate in this yearβs competition and looks forward to the thoughtful legal analysis, advocacy and debate that the competition will bring.
We wish all participating universities and students the very best as they prepare for the competition.
The Moot Problem and Instructions are available here –
